The problem with dog poop in France

French people love their dogs. No one will argue that. From big Great Danes to little Yorkies, the French bring their dogs everywhere including places like the pharmacy and the café for an afternoon coffee — and I love it. What I don’t love is that the simple concept of picking up after your dog seems foreign to pretty much everyone. The problem with dog poop in France is real. A poo bag? What’s that?

Sure, any dog owner can empathize with someone who has been caught off-guard without a bag when little Fifi decides to take a poop. I can’t empathize with nearly every French person’s inability to pick up after their dog. Sh*t, dookie, caca — call it whatever you want. It all feels the same when it’s between your toes.

Is dog poop part of the culture? What is this France dog poop problem all about?

Dog poop in France

Let’s back up. I’ll preface this by saying I’m sure some people pick up after their dog, although it’s not the norm. It even seems to be socially acceptable to leave your dog’s poop right there on the sidewalk. Need proof of the problem with dog poop in France? These pics were all taken on the same short walk on the same day. We didn’t even have to search.

French people, listen up. I don’t know what you’re into, but if you like playing poop games and leaving your dog’s crap everywhere for whatever reason, do it on your own time in your own backyard.

Stepping in it on a public sidewalk ranks pretty low on my cool-o-meter and I’m just going to assume that you leave your dog’s poop there for a reason. Oh wait, what’s that? There’s no reason other than laziness? Of course…

In parks, there aren’t poop bag stations or anything to help you out although it’s become increasing common in the past couple of years. In pet stores, they do sell rolls of waste bags but they tend to be pricey. For whatever reason, the French haven’t caught on. So why does the simple concept of picking up after your dog seem to evade the majority? Beats me, but the France dog poop problem is real. And don’t even get me started about the Paris dog poop situation.

Some people do seem to care about the mounds of sh*t that you can’t help but step in. A neighbor posted this sign shown below after he noticed a collection of poop near his doorstep. It translates to:

PLEASE, this is a private passageway. Thanks for not allowing your dogs to leave their excrement wherever :

So what am I to do about this France dog poop problem that’s getting on my last nerve? Educate… one French person at a time. And I did!

Flash back to right after we got Dagny in the winter: I had the unfortunate experience of meeting our senior citizen neighbor. Tom had already met her once when he was out with Dagny and warned me that she doesn’t like dogs. She was coming home one evening when I was walking Dagny and I passed her when we were on the sidewalk outside her property.

After we passed by, I heard her say, “Make her go closer to the curb.” I whipped around and said, “Excuse me, madame?” not sure if she was talking to us. She directed me to the edge of the curb closest to the street and told me to stop the dog from sniffing near her property. I informed her that I don’t decide where my dog relieves herself and frankly I was happy that she was going outside (not potty trained at the time). She then proceeded to show me poop near her front door and said she didn’t appreciate it.

I told her first off, that the Rottweiler-sized poop left near her door couldn’t have come out of my 7-pound (at the time) dog, and second, that as an American and a responsible pet owner, it’s the norm to pick up after our pets.

She raised an eyebrow. I showed her the poop bag I had in my pocket and she was a bit shocked. Yeah, take that lady. Then she said have a nice evening and went inside. I knew full well she was watching us from her window, so I took Dagny to the edge of the curb and within a few minutes, she went to the bathroom. I made a HUGE deal bending over to pick up Dagny’s tiny little poop knowing the neighbor was scrutinizing our every move — like old ladies often do. I tied a nice little knot in our bright pink poop bag exaggerating my movements (so she’d be sure to see how it’s done) and put the bag in the public trash can across the street as proudly as possible. And I smiled walking away. The next time this neighbor saw me, she actually pet Dagny and smiled! Score! She’s been nothing but nice since!

So when I see a dog going to the bathroom with an owner who just aimlessly watches and then moves along leaving his “business” there, I’m the one who will go up to a complete stranger and offer him or her a plastic poop bag.

I’m the one who says, “I think you forgot something there, sir.” Yup, it’s my mission to educate one French person at a time on how to pick sh*t up — American style.

Do you have a dog poop problem where you are? Ever experienced this Paris dog poop problem? Tell me about it!

I am currently in Toulouse and (unfortunately) resisting a gag reflex every time I head out for a walk. This is a sad and revolting issue for visitors and yes, locals seems totally complacent! The stench in places is nothing short of stifling. I have been to Arles, Aix, Marseille and now Toulouse …the situation is worth noting for the queasy traveler. Furthermore, it seems a shame that one can rarely look up and enjoy the beauty of the city because you must keep your eyes trained to the ground in front of you. My best advice: bring/wear a pair of shoes that you don’t mind discarding. I am curious to know what french folks think when they visit other countries (with clean sidewalks).

Yuck, yes I am always scanning the sidewalk for poop. And now that the weather is warmer (going to be 88F today, yikes!), the smell is that much more potent. I must say that I’ve seen more and more waste bag stations at parks though and many people in my neighborhood actually picking up after their dogs. So baby steps!

I have had the luck of stepping on dog poop in my neighborhood. But I live in an area that has gone downhill and I can’t sell my house due to the market. (couldn’t even get what I owe) I have dog poop in my front yard that does not belong to Bentley all the time. gross. I was out walking Bentley last week and someones Chihuaua had gotten out (Taco is the dogs name,and Bentley and he are buddies) Anyways Taco was following us for a portion of our walk but I was trying to find his owner, Taco ran to a womans yard and peed, she came running out screaming at me to pick up after that nasty thing.. I told her he wasn’t my dog and that I ALWAYS pick up after my dog, and showed her the bags. She said “well that nasty thing sh**’s in my yard all the time and the owner is gross and doesn’t pick it up. (not really my problem but I agree it is gross) I don’t understand, one of the things I had to consider before deciding to get a dog was if I was ok with picking up his poop, if the answer had been no, then I would not have gotten a dog.

Well done! On our next trip, even if we don’t take Henry (our cavalier), I think I’ll take a roll of poop bags anyway, so I can help you in your quest. I can’t believe anyone thinks something so unsanitary is acceptable, let alone an entire country.

You know, just this weekend, David, I was in La Rochelle and in the town center, I saw little disposable waste bag stations. I was so excited but then realized after seeing three empty ones, that the French still don’t get it. I think they’re trying but it’s too cultural for them to just leave the poop.

LOL!! My neighbors in NYC would KILL me if I didn’t pick up the poo! One time when I lived in Beacon Hill, a very upscale neighborhood in Boston, I threw my poop bags out in the pile of trash bags a few times, not knowing that the trash people would pick up the large bags and leave Sugar’s little pink poop bags on the street. For a month, someone on my street was cleaning them up, so I never knew! UNTIL, one day I came home to a NASTY note taped to the front of my brownstone for all neighbors to see, telling me that the trash people were not picking up the pink poop bags that the girl with the black Chihuahua leaves for the trash, and if I didn’t start throwing them in the receptacle (a couple blocks away), they were going to call the cops! HUH?! I thought I had been throwing them away with the trash the entire time!

Oh man, you just HAVE to love notes from neighbors. Well hey, at least they finally did leave you a note and you were trying to do the right thing the whole time. That’s one step above most French people who don’t see the problem w/leaving poo everywhere.

Same here, people wait to see what I’ll do and I always have at least one bag. Sometimes I even give bags to complete strangers who leave their dog’s poop on the sidewalk. I don’t even say anything. Just hand the bag over and walk away…

I just found your website. I’ve been here a year and the looks I get from all the peeps after I pick up after my pug, Jack, is hilarious! Stepping in crap is just gross. I am going the raw route with my Jack. Apparently I have been for years a smidgen at a time. I want to borrow your ear for an hour. So many questions!!!

Lately people have actually complimented me on my poop pick-up skills and I’ve seen more and more people using little bags. Maybe times are changing? Wishful thinking. What part of France are you in? Happy to help any way I can.

Ha! A friend directed me here after I posted about the copious dogsh*t here in the Languedoc where we just moved with our Cavalier King Charles. We’ve had some funny looks picking up but like you, I’m fairly elaborate about it. There are poo bag stations, well stocked, in some public places but I’ve never seen anyone using them. I’m very confused. Why would you want shit everywhere?

Hi Bernie, welcome! Hope you’re enjoying France. 😉 About poop everywhere, I think it’s just a cultural thing, but something that’s slowly changing as evidenced by the poop stations and fines that say pick up after your dog in some areas. I don’t think the French want to step in poop any more than an American would, but just don’t see the the necessity of picking up after their dogs. I always bring an extra bag for a another doggie friend and show them how easy it is to pick up the poop. Education, one poop at a time!

Years ago, I was living in Marseille, and some of the locals, knowing that I had been to Paris, wanted me to tell them if I had noticed a difference between the two cities. No doubt, they were expecting something about the weather, the food, etc. My answer required no reflection: “The dog shit on the sidewalks of Marseille is drier.”

Haha I can imagine the look at their faces! But I’m sure your observations were 100% true. I always watch where I step and offer waste bags to people I see on the street in need. Happy New Year to you!

when i went to france for the 2nd time and stayed a little longer than the previous visit, only then i realised abt these ‘poop’ issue lol.. n yeah, it was gross (n of course it took me a step on the poop tht opened up my eyes).. 3rd time was there, me eyes were like eagles trying not to step on one… but i think paris is cleaner (in terms of poop) than lyon.. wht do u think?

Hi there, I’ve never been to Lyon so I can’t say but Paris definitely has a lot of poop. I don’t know how I’ve managed to NOT step in poop while living in France. It’s probably my time soon. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed your visits to France!

Hey! I live in Lyon and I can say that it is just as covered in dog mess as Paris. Your post made me laugh a lot. We have a neighbour who shares our courtyard and her dog is out there all day. It can take a while for the dog poo to be cleared up. For me the most difficult part of this is knowing how best to express myself on the subject in French. I have tried “crottes de chien” and “excrament” but I always get a bit red, flustered and British mid-attempt…

Hi Emily, thank you for commenting. Yes, dog poop is a touchy subject. I usually say “ses besoins” like “my dog did her business” instead of my “dog did a big poop.” and stick to focusing on how I “ramasser” and not so much on the crottes. But I think crottes and crottin are perfectly fine to say. I laugh when I see this cheese in the grocery store called crottin de something or other. It actually tastes good haha. Have a great day!

Where are the bags being left? You mean just picking the poop up off the grass and then putting the bag down where the poop was? Luckily, I’ve never seen that problem here! The people who actually do clean up after their dogs put it in the garbage after!

This is so funny! And I can verify that it is a long term problem in France. I’ve been here for 17 years, lived in 5 départements from the very north to the very south and have stepped in poop everywhere. Did you know there’s a saying that it’s good luck to tread in it with your left foot? That just proves how ingrained it is in society here that there’s even a superstition!

Oh I am both laughing and crying as living in France I know all too well the huge problem that dog poop is here. When I was in Paris last year we were trying to find the steps as used in the Woody Allen Film, Midnight in Paris. Little did we know that the ally that the actor sauntered along in a straight line was the same one we had to ziz-zag down to avoid all the dog crap. Hmmm.

I find it hard to believe that anyone, let alone an (almost) entire nation can think it’s OK not to tidy up after their pets. It’s my pet hate (sniggers at her own terrible joke) picking up after our 2 bog dogs but needs must.

Thank yo so much for joining in with #AnimalTales and this timely reminder that French dog owners really do need to get tidying up.

I have a friend here in the States who is French. She asked me to help build a garden in her backyard. I built a lovely raised garden bed and planted the vegetables, etc. In the meantime, she has a shephard mix dog who uses the tiny backyard as a toilet. When I first mentioned it could be a problem, she picked up one pile of poop-one time. After that, she ignores it, says “I don’t have time”, “what can you do, I have a dog”, etc. It’s getting harder and harder to make my way around the yard to tend to the garden-sh*t is everywhere, and the stink! And I hope she isn’t expecting me to start picking it up-its enough what I’m doing only in exchange for garden produce-I’m not getting paid. Plus I caught the dog traipsing over the garden beds! She said she will put up a fence…I hope so because it is just starting to nauseate me, and I don’t know if I even want any of the produce from that garden. Dog poop is NOT on the recommended list of fertilizers. I just can’t understand people who can accept dog crap everywhere as a way of life-there has to be some lack in the mental faculty department that is culturally ingrained. Truly disgusting!

Well, I’ve been living a few places here in France and yes the streets are paved in dog poop and I really detest it. Especially here in Avignon, people just don’t pick up their dogs poop. Luckily I have not stepped in one yet… Xoxo

I have been to Paris twice, once for one week, and the second time for two. That certainly doesn’t make me an expert about Paris, including not a Parisian dog poop expert. However, I must comment about it. I had read about it before our first visit, so was prepared to be careful and have to dodge poop all over the place. Well, in three weeks of walking a LOT, we have seen one little pile in the grass in the Champ du Mars. Otherwise, not one pile of dog poop have we seen, let along stepping in or having to dodge it. Perhaps we have been exceptionally fortunate. But I think this indicates that, however it was in the past, it’s probably not a big problem there. Is it in other areas? Well, not in Versailles. But I can’t speak for other places. So it may be a pile of a problem elsewhere in France. But you may walk around Paris with your mind at ease.

Hi Terry, that’s great news! Maybe the French are catching on and picking up more and more after their dogs. Honestly, I find a lot of dog poop in the US too — there are lazy pet owners everywhere. Many of the people in my neighborhood pick up after their dogs. Just depends. I think solid advice would be to keep your eyes open everywhere… you just never know. 😉 Thanks so much for your comment!

What does Tom think about this? Indeed, dog poop etiquette in France is blasphemous! It’s the first thing I mention when my french teachers in class ask what I dislike most in France. On the streets, on the sidewalks…partout!! Oh god, if I had an apartment in France and had friends over, I wouldn’t let them get 2 feet inside the door without taking their shoes off…

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I’m Diane

Bienvenue! I believe in… not rushing through the week just to get to the weekend. Letting your hair down. Being kind, always. Getting a good sweat on. Living in athleisure. Being comfortable but finding a way to push yourself. Getting excited about life’s simple pleasures. Drinking iced coffee when it’s cold out. Making time for your pet. Going after what you want. Taking risks. Treating yourself often. Traveling to places that intrigue you. Life is meant to be lived. Let’s keep moving forward.